Shelley's blog

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs, or CFLs, have been touted as a way to greatly reduce our electricity consumption.

Mercury in CFLs vs. Power Plants

There has been concern lately about mercury found in CFLs. While mercury is a concern, it is important to note that by using these bulbs, we are in fact helping to reduce our mercury output.

Currently, the amount of mercury released into our landfills from CFLs is negligible. Because of these bulbs’ long lifespan, only after 2010 will a majority of the CFLs currently in use need to be disposed of. At this time, it is estimated that roughly 80 to 100 million CFLs will be disposed of improperly. This number may sound considerable, but when you do the math, the amount of mercury in this large number of CFLs is only about 500 kilograms, or the

People in Central Texas are cordially invited to attend the Sierra Club's Cool Cities Team Formation meetings in the upcoming weeks. These meeting will show many towns how to
make teams to encourage their mayors to sign on to the Mayor's Climate Protection Plan. If you are interested in attending a meeting in your area, please see the information below:

The Austin Climate Clergy Connection meeting that took place on Monday, February 18th, was a hit!  The conference was attended by 40 clergy members and lay-leaders.  Among the clergy attending were Rabbi Steve Folberg (Congregation Beth Israel), Rev. Tina Carter (The Rock United Methodist  Church), and Rev.

The San Antonio Community of Churches and Solar San Antonio have worked to bring clergy and lay members of San Antonio area houses of worship together at a reception on March 6, 2008 to learn from one another about the stewardship of the Earth.  The reception is part of the Stewardship Earth Weekend being promoted by the San Antonio Community of Churches, the Archdiocese of San Antonio, the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio and other communities of faith.

Event Info
Stewardship Earth Weekend Reception
3-6 pm on Thursday, March 6, 2008
Beacon Hill Presbyterian Church
1101 W. Woodlawn, San Antonio, TX

"Sustainable! Food, Environment, and Economics" Spirituality and Activism Conference is fast approaching! On March 28th and 29th, this exciting event will take place at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. Among the speakers will be UT Professor Robert Jensen and York University Professor Justin Podur. Texas Interfaith Power & Light will be giving a workshop on the faith community's involvement in the environmental movement. If you are interested in attending, please see the information below:

There have been many reports floating about telling about mercury in CFLs. We are here to set the record straight and ensure that you know the right and wrong ways to dispose of your eco-friendly light bulbs.

Is it true that CFLs contain mercury? Why and how much?
CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing – an average of 5 milligrams (roughly equivalent to the tip of a ball-point pen). Mercury is an essential, irreplaceable element in CFLs and is what allows the bulb to be an efficient light source. By comparison, older home thermometers contain 500 milligrams of mercury and many manual thermostats contain up to 3000 milligrams. It would take between 100 and 600 CFLs to equal those amounts.

"Bright Ideas" ShopIPL Energy Efficient Congregational Fundraising Packet

Bright Ideas! fundraisers
are a great chance for your faith community to save on energy costs and be
better stewards of God’s creation. The sale can raise funds for your projects
or help pay for energy efficient upgrades to your house of worship.

The documents below can help get you started!

Information Sheet

Focus the Nation,
a national initiative to educate about and involve people with the fight
against climate change, is coming up January 30 – 31, 2008.

Click here for more
information on how you can involve your congregation. To find out if any churches or universities
in your area are participating, go to this
website.